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Spain\u2019s top criminal court has opened a preliminary investigation into the country\u2019s football federation president Luis Rubiales after he kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the lips.<\/p>\n
The prosecutors are looking into whether the incident amounts to a crime of sexual assault.<\/p>\n
Rubiales, 46, has been widely criticised after the incident following Spain\u2019s Women\u2019s World Cup final win.<\/p>\n
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Hermoso, 33, said the kiss was not consensual.<\/p>\n
Rubiales was\u00a0suspended on Saturday\u00a0by world football\u2019s governing body Fifa.<\/p>\n
The previous day, Rubiales had\u00a0insisted he would not resign.<\/p>\n
The Prosecutor\u2019s Office says it has started the investigation because \u201cthe sexual act was not consented\u201d.<\/p>\n
According to a statement, received by the AFP news agency from the Spanish national court, \u201cprosecutors from the national court have opened a preliminary investigation to look into the facts, which could constitute an offence of sexual assault\u201d.<\/p>\n
The statement indicated the court would offer Hermoso a chance to file a lawsuit.<\/p>\n
The Spanish government has asked for Spain\u2019s Sports Tribunal (TAD) to suspend him \u2013 a request which will be discussed at a TAD meeting on Monday.<\/p>\n
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has also called regional federations to an \u201cextraordinary and urgent\u201d meeting on Monday \u201cto evaluate the situation in which the federation finds itself\u201d.<\/p>\n
When it announced Rubiales had been suspended on Saturday, Fifa ordered him, the RFEF and its officials and employees not to attempt to contact Hermoso, who the RFEF had threatened with legal action earlier that day.<\/p>\n
Rubiales\u2019 mother Angeles Bejar has locked herself in the Divina Pastora church in Motril on the southern Spanish coast \u2013 the town where her son was raised \u2013 and has gone on a hunger strike because of the \u201cinhuman hunt\u201d against him.<\/p>\n
She told Spanish news agency EFE the strike would continue \u201cindefinite, day and night\u201d \u2013 and added the \u201cinhuman and bloody hunt that they are doing with my son is something he does not deserve\u201d.<\/p>\n
Rubiales\u2019 cousin Vanessa Ruiz, who acts as a family spokesperson in Motril, said: \u201cWe are suffering a lot for him. He has been judged before his time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey (the media) don\u2019t stop harassing us. We had to leave our house. We want them to leave us alone and for Jenni to tell the truth. It\u2019s not fair.\u201d<\/p>\n
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